After all the signs in Pittsburgh referring to Benedict Hossa and You Can’t Spell ASSHOle without HOSSA I think it’s time for a new sign that says “Thank you for being nothing more than a rental that helped us get playoff experience.” Wait…what? No, I’m being serious here.
Think about this for a second. If Marian Hossa stays on with the Pens, then it is highly likely that the Penguins are not in the playoff predicament come February that they were in, so Michele Therrien’s job is never in jeopardy and the Penguins probably never end up with Dan Bylsma as their coach. While it would be foolish to consider Therrien a bad coach, he is in no means the correct coach for this young Penguins team. Bylsma turned the team around (coupled with some great moves by Ray Shero) and has them playing a style suitable for a young offensively talented team. What’s more is the team is actually fun to watch again. I’m not sure about any of you but around January/February there were times I wanted to scratch out my eyes when watching the Penguins sit back and not play any offense under Therrien. While in all likelihood the Penguins will not win the Stanley Cup While the Penguins beat down an aging Red Wings team this year, the addition of Bylsma will undoubtedly mean more Stanley Cups in Pittsburgh in the future than under Therrien. So in return for not getting an aging winger who probably wouldn’t have made the team any better than they are currently, we get a great young coach to lead the team with what appears to be a huge future. I call fair trade on that one.
Finally, Pens fans take solace in the fact that it is highly unlikely Hossa will get the same kind of offer the Edmonton Oilers offered him last year since the crumbling world economy has also hit major sports. So while he might get a Stanley Cup he still doesn’t have a Stanley Cup and the Pens have their third, he has lost millions and has been influential in Pittsburgh obtaining Dan Bylsma and his staff to coach the Penguins, so I say kudos to you fine sir and have fun watching Sidney, Geno, and crew parade around with Cups in the now and in the future!
aaltemus Sports NHL hockey Penguins Red Wings Hossa Bylsma Adam Altemus
I just read this blog post: http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/news/story?id=4111297 and I have to say, I am pretty dumbfounded. Alexander Ovechkin, while by far the best goal scorer in the league, is not the MVP this year and the statistics and circumstances all point to it. Yet, articles like these are practically giving it to him. Let me state my case why the MVP should be Evgeni Malkin.
Circumstances
Last year, Ovechkin won the Art Ross and Evgeni Malkin finished second. Ovechkin led a team that was not looking much like a contender into the playoffs before they lost in the first round in a great series. Malkin was on a team that breezed into the playoffs and into the Stanley Cup finals. This year the roles are completely reversed. Malkin is the Art Ross winner and was the key player in leading the team that was 10th in the standings to the second round of the playoffs, and maybe furhter (as of writing this the second round is about to begin). Ovechkin finished second and is on a team that breezed into the playoffs this year. This alone warrants Malkin the MVP unless the voters are nothing more than hypocrites.
Upon Further Statisical Analysis
We always hear from moron fanboys like Pierre McGuire how Ovechkin carries the Capitals more than anyone on any team. He is their best player, no doubt but, he did not do more for his team this year than Malkin did for the Pens. Look at the statistics:
- The Caps have 5 50+ point scorers and the Penguins have 2.
- The Caps have 5 20+ goal scorers, the Penguins have 4.
- The Penguins have 11 10+ goal scorers, the Caps have 9.
These statistics tell a few things. First, they both play on talented teams that they make better and neither is lacking help. But, the argument that Ovechkin carries the Caps more than Malkin does for the Penguins because he is on a team with Sidney Crosby is ludicrous, and all statistics point directly to it. Lastly, the statistics tell me that Malkin, in my mind, actually makes his teammates better. A big reason for the Pens having so many 10+ goal scorers is because of his 78 assists (and Crosby’s 70). I am not going to say Ovechkin does not make the Capitals players better because he is one of the three best hockey players in the NHL and as such he does. But, honestly, to say Ovechkin did more than Malkin this year is laughable.
Conclusion
The three MVP finalists all deserve the award. Some more so than others and Evgeni Malkin should be the choice. Anything else would be criminal in my mind.
aaltemus Sports malkin ovechkin nhl mvp playoff crosby adam altemus
